A Fresh Start with Independence

Summary

This summary sets out the Scottish Government’s proposals in this publication for an independent Scotland.

It sets out why Scotland should become an independent country, and what an independent Scotland could look like.

The full publication provides details of these proposals, an analysis of the evidence that informs them, as well as references to sources. It provides answers to questions around currency, the public finances of an independent Scotland, how the constitution will work, and border arrangements.

This summary is available in other versions:

• Easy Read
• Translations
• Audio
• BSL
• PDF – as part of the main paper

An accompanying technical paper provides information on the measurement of trade, income and investment flows under the macroeconomic framework of an independent Scotland. 

A Question and Answer paper is also available, designed to focus on areas of particular interest: the public finances, currency, EU accession, the border with the rest of the UK, immigration and citizenship, and defence and security.

Why Scotland should be independent

Scotland has many strengths and a great deal of potential.

The Scottish Parliament has shown that even with the limited level of self-government Scotland currently exercises, improvements in people’s lives have been delivered based on Scottish voters’ priorities and choices.

But decision-making at Westminster is causing people in Scotland real difficulties. The UK economic model is not delivering for Scotland. Living standards are not improving.

The current powers of the Scottish Parliament are not enough to deal with the challenges we face in the modern world.

The Scottish Government believes that the people who live in Scotland are best placed to make decisions about Scotland: and it is only with the full powers of independence and becoming a nation state that Scotland can make a fresh start and meet its full potential.

To build on Scotland’s achievements

When Scotland has the ability to make its own choices, it takes actions that reflect the priorities and values of people in Scotland:

• improving health, like the introduction of minimum unit pricing to reduce the health harms caused by alcohol consumption, or making NHS prescriptions free
• delivering for families, like increasing funded early learning and childcare, or introducing the Scottish Child Payment
• recognising the massive contribution made by unpaid carers to the people they care for and our communities through the Carer Support Payment, Carer’s Allowance Supplement, and the Young Carer Grant
• introducing reforms in education, like making university education free and widening access to higher education
• protecting the environment, including increasing renewable generation to the point that 70% of electricity generated in Scotland is from renewable sources, and halving CO2 emissions
• boosting travel, including by building the Queensferry Crossing, expanding the rail network, and abolishing Scotrail peak rail fares
• introducing a right of responsible access to land and the countryside
• and helping business, so that at a time when overall investment in UK start-ups is declining, Scotland is bucking that trend, and since 2007 productivity has grown more than twice the UK rate

To build on Scotland’s potential

Scotland’s resources and potential includes:

Natural resources

• natural resources – our natural resources make us an energy-rich nation and provide opportunities to tackle the climate and nature crises. Our renewable energy sectors and supply chain contributed £6.6 billion to the economy in 2022
• seas – an independent Scotland within the EU would have the fourth largest Exclusive Economic Zone of EU core waters. Our waters are rich in terms of fisheries, marine biodiversity, and offshore renewable energy potential

Business and industry

• food and drink – Scotch whisky was the UK’s top drinks export in 2024, whilst Scottish salmon was the UK’s number one food export
• tourism – our incredible scenery, lively cities, unique culture and welcoming people are a key strength. Tourism contributed £4.8 billion to the economy in 2022
• financial services – Scotland excels in finance and business, with these sectors employing 226,000 people in 2023
• creative industries – arts, music, film, architecture, fashion, video games and publishing contributed £5.7 billion to the economy in 2022
• foreign investment – for ten years running, Scotland has been the top UK destination for foreign direct investment outside London, outperforming all other regions

Skills and education

• universities – our universities rank among the world’s best, with three in the top 200 of Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• people – Scotland’s population is highly educated and skilled, with a higher proportion of our population holding university or college qualifications than the UK overall and the second highest of any EU country

Because the UK economic model is not working

The Scottish Government believes the evidence shows that the UK’s economic model is not working for Scotland.

Living standards are not rising, energy prices are high, and being outside the EU is hurting Scotland’s economy.

Given the impact on individuals and families of the current UK economic model, the Scottish Government believes that it is more important than ever that the people of Scotland have the right to decide whether or not to become an independent country.

The UK economic model does not work for Scotland:

• the UK economy is too centred on London and the South East, and efforts to reduce regional inequalities have failed
• slow productivity growth—worse than the EU and Scotland since 2007—is damaging living standards
• living standards are stagnant: the poorest people in the UK are much worse off than in Germany and France
• UK energy prices are amongst the highest in Europe, despite Scotland’s rich energy resources
• Brexit is damaging an already underperforming UK economy, creating barriers to trade and increasing food costs

All of these factors have contributed to the current economic difficulties people are facing in their own day-to-day lives.

Because an independent Scotland could be wealthier, happier and fairer than the UK

Independent countries comparable to Scotland are wealthier, happier and fairer than the UK.

The Scottish Government reviewed the evidence on 10 independent countries that can be compared to Scotland: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

All 10 are healthier and have a higher life expectancy at birth than the UK. And all have lower overall poverty rates than the UK and are more productive.

If other similar countries can do better than the UK, an independent Scotland could too.

The Resolution Foundation says the UK’s weak economy leaves typical households £8,300 per year worse off than comparable countries.

Using the same analysis for countries that are comparable to Scotland, the difference for Scottish households is even greater: £10,200. Those countries demonstrate what can be achieved with the powers of independence.

Although growth will not change overnight, the Scottish Government believes that Scotland has clear catch-up potential.

What an independent Scotland could look like

Independence would be a fresh start for Scotland.

Independence offers the potential of transformational change: a fresh start for Scotland’s economy, making the most of our energy resources, and rejoining the EU.

The opportunities of independence set out in this prospectus include:

• decision making – a Scottish nation state would put the power to decide Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands, with decisions made by governments the people of Scotland have voted for
• new partnerships – an independent Scotland, the UK and the EU would be able to forge new relationships, based on equality and mutual respect, that would bring social and economic benefits
• a protected NHS – Scotland’s NHS would be protected and strengthened through its inclusion in our interim constitution, giving people a guaranteed right to access a system of health care, free at the point of need
• rejoining the EU – Scotland would be able to apply to rejoin the EU, giving Scottish businesses access to the world’s largest single market, seven times the size of the UK, enabling the people of Scotland to reclaim their rights to live, work, study and travel throughout the EU
• building a new economy to boost living standards – independence would allow future Scottish Governments to take action directly to improve living standards, using the full powers of a nation state. Independent European nation states comparable to Scotland tend to be happier, wealthier and fairer than the UK
• a new Central Bank and a transition to a new currency – an independent Scotland would have its own independent Scottish Central Bank to oversee economic conditions in Scotland, with responsibility for financial stability. The Scottish Central Bank, drawing on independent advice and working with the Scottish Parliament, would determine when it would be best to adopt a Scottish pound
• a constitution for Scotland – a new written constitution for Scotland, shaped by the people of Scotland and their elected Parliament, would clearly set out the key institutions, values, rights and equality protections—including new Scottish citizenship arrangements—necessary for an independent democratic nation state
• a social security system delivered with dignity, fairness and respect – with independence, the Scottish Government would take full responsibility for social security. This would enable us to reform Universal Credit to make it fairer, protect pensioners, support disabled people, and do more to tackle child poverty
• A migration system that meets Scotland’s needs – independence would allow Scotland to shape its own migration system to meet our needs as a country. Inward migration boosts economic growth, helps address depopulation, and enriches our society and our communities
• taking our place on the world stage – an independent Scotland would be able to build new partnerships with other countries and apply to join international organisations like the UN and NATO to help address global challenges

Conclusion

Scotland can be independent, rejoin the EU and strengthen its relationship with the rest of the UK, as well as the world.

We can become a wealthier and fairer nation, like other similar countries.

That is the fresh start for Scotland with independence.